Investment Behaviour of Salaried Women in Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram: A Comparative Review

Abstract

Women's participation in the salaried workforce has increased substantially in recent decades, strengthening their role in household financial management and investment decision-making. Alongside rising financial literacy, digital financial services, and greater access to diversified investment avenues, understanding the investment behaviour of salaried women has become increasingly important for promoting financial inclusion and sustainable economic development. This paper presents a comparative review of the investment behaviour of salaried women in the districts of Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and Jhargram in West Bengal. The study synthesizes existing literature, government publications, reports of financial institutions, and other secondary sources to examine the socio-economic factors, financial awareness, investment preferences, risk perception, and challenges influencing investment decisions among salaried women across these three districts. The review indicates that although women increasingly recognize the importance of financial planning, investment decisions continue to be shaped by income level, educational attainment, occupation, family responsibilities, cultural influences, financial literacy, and accessibility to formal financial services. Salaried women in Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur exhibit comparatively higher awareness and participation in diversified financial instruments owing to better educational and banking infrastructure, whereas women in Jhargram continue to demonstrate a stronger preference for traditional and low-risk investment avenues because of geographical, economic, and financial accessibility constraints. The paper highlights the need for district-specific financial literacy initiatives, enhanced digital financial inclusion, and gender-responsive investment awareness programmes to encourage informed investment decisions and strengthen women's long-term financial security. The findings provide useful insights for policymakers, financial institutions, researchers, and development agencies seeking to promote inclusive financial participation among salaried women in semi-urban and rural regions of West Bengal.